Composite electric signaling system.



W. N. PHINNEY.

COMPOSITE ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21. 1907.

1,138,011 3. Patented May 4, 1915.

ventor:

Att

COMPOSITE ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application filed October 21, 1907. Serial No. 398,338.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WARREN N. PHINNEY, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Allston, Boston, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Composite Electric Signaling Systems, the principles of which are set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, which disclose the form of the invention which I now consider to be the best of the various forms in which the principles of the invention may be embodied.

This invention relates to signaling systems, particularly for use in warning ships of imminent danger.

The object of the invention is to provide.

such a system as shall be operative between a ship and an invisible danger point, such as another ship or a shoal or rock, which may have visual signals thereon, but which are obscured by fog, storm or darkness.

A further object of the invention is to providesuch a system as will be operative between a ship and a danger point, when the distance between them is so comparatively slight that further progress may be extremely dangerous, such distances being those measured by the audibilitiy of the ordinary steam-fog-horn or siren which are capable of producing sound-waves transniissible to a considerable distance. Such sound-signals, while conveying more or less accurate intelligence as to, the direction of their source of emanation, are extremely deceptive and misleading with respect to the conveyance of an idea as to the distance of the place of reception of the sound from the place of its production.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a system which will furnish intelligence as to the distance as wellas the direction of the place of danger constituting the transmitter of the system, thereby not only warning the pilot to take instant action in case of immediate danger, but also permitting him to proceed forward without fear and without losing time or steerage way in case of absence of danger.

The invention involves, fundamentally,

the well-known enormous difference in time-,

transmission between electromagnetic or socalled electric waves, and sound waves.

The drawing is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of the invention, which, as to physical embodiment, is extremely' simple and therefore practicable and useful in operation.

H may represent a ships pilot house or a portion of a light house, in which the apparatus is installed; and F a window-opening for the look-out. Any suitable wireless tel egraphy apparatus may be installed in the pilot house, and supplied with electrical energy for transmission of signals by any suitable generator G, which, as the required distances of transmission are only a few miles, may be of extremely low power, such as of a battery of a few cells furnished with the usual interrupter with the transformer or induction coil N. In receiving signals the pilot may use the telephone T, which may be adapted to be applied to only one ear, leaving the other car uncovered to listen to the sound of adistant whistle.

Each intercommunicating system is to be provided with apparatus similar to that shown, and consisting of both transmitting and receiving means for electric waves, and also a steam fog-horn or siren or other adequate sound-producing means.

The electric wave transmitting means may comprise, in addition to generator G and transformer N, the inductance L, condensance (i. e., capacity) K and spark-gap R, all connected together and to the switch points 7 and 8 so as to be included within the main or aerial circuit XE, which may be any desired form of known circuit for the purpose. 7

An oscillating switch-member A is pivoted in bearings B, B, and carries a part J, to the end of which is secured a conducting bar 16 supported on. switch-member J and connecting switch-points 3 and 4 together to connect the upper part X of the aerial circuit'with the lower part E, such as earth. Normally the connection is such as to operatively include the receiving apparatus with the aerial oircuit'XE, the transmitting apparatus being normally cut out from cooperation with the aerial circuit, as shown.

- for stevedore use, etc,

When it is desired to employ the installation to transmit signals, the rope or string P, attached to switch-member O, is pulled downward to bring the switch blades 13 and 14 into the position shown in dotted lines, and to simultaneously oscillate the conductor 16 from the position shown in full lines. The result is to disconnect switch-points 3 and 4 from each other and to connect them respectively to points 7 and 8 thereby connecting to the aerial circuit, the apparatus included in the oscillation circuitK, R,-L. The switch-member A carries also a conducting blade 15, and when the rope P is pulled downward, this is moved into its dotted line position to connect switch-points 11 and 12 together, thus closing the circuit of generator G through the primary of induction coil N andcausing the production of high frequency oscillations which result in the radiation of electric waves from an tenna XE. The switch blades 13, 14 and 15 oscillate above the plane of the drawing, while conducting bar 16 oscillates below the plane. I

The rope P is also connected, in any usual way, to the fog-horn, siren, or whistle W, of any known construction, so that when the rope is pulled the propagation of sound waves by the fog-horn commences, simultaneously with the radiation of electric waves from antenna When the power whistle is operated by steam, the supply may be through the pipe V from a boiler U which may be located at any suitable place-and used also either to supply the vessel-propelling means or power apparatus Other forms of power may be employed to operate the whistle, and the rope I may be attached so that when it is pulled thepower operates the whistle, the power being automatically shut off when rope P is released. In the example shown, the rope is so connected that when it is pulled it depresses the lever. 20 to open a steam valve in the usual way, and also puts spring 21 under tension so that the steam supply is cut 01? as soon as rope P is released.v

Let the drawings nowrepresent an installation on another ship within audible dis- ;ance from the siren or whistle'of the first, the two vessels and their signal lights being invisible, the one to the other, by reason of fog, storm or darkness. Under these circumstances pilot number 2 will have the telephone T at his ear. The suitable spring S, bearing on the switch-member U, keeps the switch in its normal position to main tain the wireless receiving apparatus in operative condition, as shown by the switchblades 18, 1 c and 15 in full lines. Thus the switch-points 1 and 2 are disconnected (as indicated by the dotted line joining them), the switch conductor 16 being in its normal position to connect switch-points 3 and 4 together to maintain the continuity of the earthed circuit X-E. Also switch blade 13 connects points 1 and 5 together and blade 14 connects points 2 and 6 to-- gether; thus connecting to the antenna cirunit, the oscillation receiving circuit including condenser C, detector Z and inductance M. The switch blade 15 connects points 9 and 10 together also, so that the circuit is' closed through the detector Z, battery Y and telephone T. The small switch D in the battery circuit, (which may be opened in clear weather or when the pilot is not using the sound of the whistle, immediately fol-' lows the telephone click he will know that immediate action is necessary, even if the sound of the whistle is faint or indistinct; because the close occurrence of the two sounds means that the two boats are dan gerously close together, as indicated by the fact that the time required for the transmission of the sound-waves is practically but little longer than that required for transmission of the electric waves. number 2 will also pull his own compound signaling rope to impart similar intelligence to pilot number 1; and as soon as pilot number 2 lets go of the rope, the switching mechanism will automatically replace his apparatus in condition for receiving. Meanwhile, pilot number lhas been alternately pulling his signaling rope, and listening for the time intervals between the two signals made by pilot number 2. In this way both pilots will be certainly apprised of immediate danger, which would be impossible with a whistle alone, or with wireless telegraphy alone; and without both operating simultaneously. The rope P, may, particularly on light-house installations, be replaced by any other suitable operating means, such as the automatic or other clockwork arrangements heretofore in use for operating whistles and sirens on ships and light-houses.

0n the other hand, it the sound of the whistle is very loud and clear, the boats might be a safe distance of several miles apart, such as not to necessarily cause alarm, delay or loss of steerage-way. senee however, of the cooperation of the electric waves with the electric waves, the

Pilot In the ab pilot could not know this; but if the loud sound of the whistle is heard by him only upon the lapse of a considerable time interval after the telephone click, he isthereby informed of that, to him, interesting fact that the other vessel is at a safely remote distance. Furthermore he has a continual feeling of assurance, in that he andthe other pilot may each alternately send and listen, until the time interval very. greatly increases between the perception of the telephone click and the whistle sound, respectively, in cases where it does not decrease to such an extent as to necessitate quick action on the part of both pilots in managing their boats.

The whistle W may be replaced by any suitable equivalent, such as a bell, or a gun or other explosion means. And the soundwaves may be propagated through water instead of air, as in the case of the submarine bell signaling system, wherein the sound is telephonically received on shipboard. The submarine sound-transmitting bell may not only be located at a station, but may be carried as a part of the ship installation. In such cases the telephone receiver of the submarine bell system will, in accordance with this invention, be applied to the ear of the pilot towhich telephone T is not applied.

Obviously, and particularly in the case of installations at light-houses or light-ships, certain installations employing this invention may transmit a'characteristic signal, so as to inform the pilot or pilot number 2 of his proximity to a definite locality.

While the invention is useful as applied to ocean-going vessels, it is particularly adapted to decrease danger in connecti n with light-houses, light-ships, and coasting vessels, including tugs and small steamers which frequent rivers, harbors and the coast generally. The practicability of wireless telegraphy now being assured, the invention is obviously practical, and its utility is also apparent.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for a signaling installation which comprises means for transmitting electric waves; in combination with means for observing the receipt of such waves from a distant transmitter; of a switch for causing said transmitting and receiving means to be alternately operative and inoperative; means for causing said switch to normally maintain the receiving means operative; means for producing sound waves transmissible to a considerable distance; and means for independently but simultaneously operating said sound-producing means and the switch to cause the electric wave transmitting means to become operative.

2. Apparatus for a signaling installation, which comprises means for transmitting electric waves; in combination with means for observing the recelpt of such waves from a distant transmitter; of a switch for a1ter-' nately operating such transmitting and re ceiving means; a spring which normally closes the switch with the receiving means; a power whistle; and means for independently but simultaneously operating said whistle and closing the switch to operate the electric transmitting means.v

3. In apparatus for a composite signaling installation, the combination with means for transmitting and intelligibly receiving electric waves; of means for producing sound-waves transmissible to a considerable distance; means for placing alternately in operative condition, the means for transmit ting and the means for receiving the electric waves; and means for operating the soundproducing means independently of but simultaneously with the electric wave transmitting means.

4:. Apparatus for a signaling installation which comprises means for transmitting electric waves; in combination with means for observing the receipt of such waves from a distant transmitter; an aerial system constituting a part common to said transmitting and receiving means; of a switch for alternately operatively connecting one of said means with the aerial system and simultaneously removing the other means from such connection while maintaining an operative circuit through the aerial system; means for producing sound waves transmissible to a considerable distance; and means for independently but simultaneously operating said switch and said sound-producing means.

5. In a composite signaling installation, the combination with a transmitter of electric waves, of means for observing the receipt of such Waves from a distant electric wave transmitter, means, operatively independent of said observing means, for producing sound waves transmissible to a considerable distance; and means alternately placing in operative condition, the electric wave transmitter and the means for observing the receipt of the electric waves.

(3. In a composite signaling installation, the combination with means for transmitting and means for intelligibly receiving electric waves; of means, operatively inde pendent of said receiving means, for producing sound-waves transmissible to a considerable distance; means for rendering the receiving means inoperative during the operation of the sound-producing means, and means for operating said electric wave transmitting means and said sound-producing means substantially simultaneously.

7. In a composite signaling installation, the combination with means for transmitting and means for intelligibly receiving electric waves; of means for alternately placing in 0perative condition, the means Wave transmitting means substantially sifor transmitting and the means for receivmultaneously.

ing electric Waves; means, operatively inde- 1 1 I TIT 4 7 v pendent of said receiving means, for produc- VARRLN 1 A 5 ing sound-Waves transmissible to a consider- Witnesses:

able distance; and means for operating the PHILIP FARNSWORTH,

sound-producing means and the electric M. D. HART. 

